A piloting app for the Parrot AR.Drone quadrocopter is finally coming to …

Share this story

Up until now, only iPhone users have been able to pilot their own Parrot AR.Drone quadrocopter, but starting next month, Android owners will finally be able to get in on the augmented reality action. iOS users, meanwhile, can expect a few new games to hit the device very soon.

No games have been announced for Android, but the piloting app is expected to be available starting in July. Surprisingly, the piloting app is also available for both Samsung and Nokia phones, thanks to Playsoft Games, which utilized Parrot's software development kit to create free piloting apps for both the Symbian and Bada mobile operating systems. The apps for all three platforms are free to download.

And then there are the games. One of the titles we managed to check out at CES, AR.Flying Ace, is already available in the App Store for free, while the other, AR.Race, will be launching today, also free of charge. However, in addition to the app, you can also pick up some pricey physical obstacles to put into the game. A set of two pylons and one finish line will run you $59.99, while a single donut costs $49.99. These inflatable obstacles are actually recognized by the Drone's camera, and allow you to create your own circuits for up to four players to race in. Though the game launches today, the accessories won't be available to purchase until July.

For those without friends who also own a Drone, Parrot is also working on an as-of-yet untitled game that will allow two players to play together using the same quadrocopter. No details are available yet, but Parrot describes it as "a confrontation between the man and the machine, a track race where the target is not necessarily the one originally suspected." No word yet on when the app will be available.